Christmas Crispy Treats

If you have ever been a guest in my home, you know I follow the age old Jewish tradition of feeding you. Offering up some of the many chocolates and candies I keep on display and hidden in my pantry is part of the program.  When I ask friends if they would like a piece of candy, the typical response is, “Oh, I don’t eat candy.” I admit it.  No one enjoys a good piece of candy as much as I do. But friends….don’t tell me that I am the only one in America eating the 7.3 million tons of chocolate consumed in the United States each year.  Whether you are a closet candy lover or out, you will love what my niece Elizabeth introduced me to.

 

Last Christmas, Elizabeth brought her then boyfriend and now fiancé Wade, along with her confection called “Christmas Crack.”  I renamed it Christmas Crispy Treats for obvious reasons, but it really is as addictive as crack. You and your holiday guests just won’t be able to get enough of this stuff.  It was too late in the season to post the recipe on my blog last year, but I kept it close and vowed to share it in plenty of time for my followers to make it for the holidays. 

A few of my other candy favorites posted over the years are Bacon Candy, Sweet and Spicy Chocolate Truffles, Chocolate Salami, Peanut Clusters and White Chocolate Bark.

Ingredients:

§     2 pounds white chocolate bark, melted

§     1 16 ounce jar of peanut butter (I used extra crunchy)

§     2 cups salted peanuts

§     4 cups Rice Krispies

§     4 cups mini marshmallows

Directions:

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper, allowing the paper to hang over the sides.  Using a sharp knife, chop the chocolates as finely as possible to help melt the chocolate quickly and evenly. Place the chopped chocolate pieces into a dry, glass or other heat proof bowl.  In a medium size pot, place approximately 1”- 2” of water and bring to a simmer.  Place the bowl over the simmering water.  Don't let the top bowl containing the chopped chocolate pieces touch the water. The steam and the heat from the pot will do all the work. Stir with a spatula until the chocolate is softened.  If the bowl is too hot, hold it with a potholder while stabilizing over the pot.  When the chocolate is nearly melted, remove from heat.

Tip: Melt the chocolate in the microwave at 50 – 70 percent power, stirring with a rubber spatula every 30 seconds until smooth and creamy.  Depending on how finely you chopped the chocolate, this process should take between 1 - 3 minutes total.  

Stir in the entire jar of peanut butter until well mixed. 

Add peanuts and mix. 

Pour in the cereal folding gently the whole time until all combined. Then pour in the mini marshmallows and gently fold in.

Turn the mixture onto the prepared sheet and press flat to form an even layer.  Set aside to cool.

When completely cooled, cut into small pieces and serve.  For a printer friendly copy of this recipe, go to Christmas Crispy Treats. Enjoy!